Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Llyr Gruffydd has paid a moving tribute in the Senedd to Ryan Evans from Wrexham, who was killed in Ukraine last month. The former Ysgol Morgan Llwyd pupil was working as a security advisor for Reuters news agency when his hotel was struck by a Russian missile attack.

Addressing the Welsh Parliament, Llyr Gruffydd MS said:

“I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to a very special man form Wrexham, who was tragically killed in Ukraine in August. Ryan Evans was working with Reuters news agency in Kramatorsk in the east of the country, just 16 miles from the front line when the hotel he was staying in was hit by a Russian missile.

“Ryan was a security advisor for Reuters, and was staying at the hotel with a team of fellow journalists. The strike injured many of his team including an Ukrainian cameraman who was left in a coma with life changing injuries.

“As a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham he is fondly remembered by staff and former pupils alike, and after leaving school Ryan joined the Royal Welsh Regiment at the age of 17 where he served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan – rising to the rank of Corporal.

“Upon leaving the armed forces in 2010 he started working as a close protection officer accompanying British diplomats on missions to many countries including Libya, Tunisia and Syria. More recently, as a close protection specialist, he accompanied journalists into the most hostile environments and war zones.

“His final trip was one of over 20 that he’d made to Ukraine since the conflict began – always on a mission to ensure the utmost safety of his co-workers.

“Reuters paid tribute to Ryan describing him as a ‘world class security operator’. He had worked extensively in Israel this year as well as in Gaza and the West Bank providing protection to journalists. He recently covered security for Reuters staff at the Paris Olympics and was a trained paramedic, helping injured civilians on numerous occasions.

“Tragically, Ryan leaves his widow, Kerrie, and four children.

“I’m sure that all of us at the Senedd would like to extend our deepest condolences to them and his wider family in their huge and painful loss.”